As the first Maroon was fired from Guildford Castle – a mark of respect from the townspeople – a flock of birds nesting on the Guildhall sprung from their nests and flew over the heads of those who had gathered.

Around 50 mourners stood outside the building to say a last farewell before Her Majesty was laid to rest. Moments later, as the procession was screened live on television, the roads were empty.

But even before the two-minute silence took place, across the town the streets of Guildford were eerily still.

Many had remained at home to watch the proceedings on television and the few shoppers and workers who were in the town seemed to be going about their day with quiet reflection.

Most of the larger shops, such as Boots and HMV, closed at 10.30am as a mark of respect. Some did not open at all during the morning.

As the shops closed people drifted into the Guildhall to sign the condolence book, leaving messages such as “rest in peace, ma’am” and “you will never be forgotten”.

Even tourists visiting Guildford from overseas decided to sign and pay their last respects.

As 11.30am drew near the Mayor of Guildford, Jennifer Powell, and David Watts, the chief executive of Guildford Borough Council, adorned in their full robes, stepped out of the Guildhall and stood, heads bowed, as the Maroon went off and the two-minute silence began.

The subdued onlookers, particularly the more elderly, were visibly saddened by the occasion.

A tearful Andrew Leeds, 82, said: “I served in the army under the Queen Mother for many years, so I am very sad.

“She was the best of them all and there will never be anybody like her again.”

His sentiments were echoed across the town as people mourned the loss of a woman who had helped the profile of the monarchy so greatly.

Ann and Bill Wallis, aged 78 and 79-years-old, were deeply saddened by the loss.

“We just loved her,” they said. “But at least this has brought the country together.”

George Bernard Shaw, 63, wore black armbands as a sign of his grief and respect. “It’s a very sad loss,” he said.

“She was a marvellous woman. I remember her during the war when she went round to all the places that were bombed.

“She was a great woman and she’ll be sadly missed.”

Even among the younger generation it seemed that the Queen Mother was thought to have been a special lady.

“She was a lovely lady, a grandmother type,” said 23-year-old Collette Whelan.

A young man standing near the Guildhall agreed, adding that the Queen Mother had been “the stalwart of the Royal Family”.

Donna Bohkm, 61, was visibly upset. “I’m very sad and I have been crying today,” she said. “It’s so sad because the Queen Mother was such a good woman.”

Shona Morrison, a 42-year-old Godalming woman, believed that the ceremony should focus on the life the Queen Mother lived.

“Although it is a very sad occasion she had a great life,” she said. “She lived to a wonderful age and today should be more of a celebration than anything.”

At 11.32am a second Maroon startled the crowd out of its reverie and people began to return to their everyday lives.

As the crowd dispersed there was a feeling that the gathering together of townspeople to mourn as a community had been “the right thing to do”.